Sometimes architects try to shut nature out of their building projects, but <a href="http://www.studiomas.co.za/">StudioMAS</a> from South Africa has taken a different approach with this dazzling <a href="http://www.circaonjellicoe.co.za/?m=1">Circa on Jellicoe art gallery</a> in an upscale suburb of Johannesburg. Not only does nature play a lead role in the design concept, but she is even encouraged to eventually take over. This philosophy is evident throughout the multimedia art gallery - from the bark-colored aluminum fin facade, which also allows the building to breathe, to the planted ivy scrims.

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

Nature plays a lead role in the design of the Circa on Jellicoe Art Gallery in South Africa

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

StudioMAS created a breathable facade comprised of anodized aluminum fins

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

The fins are multi-colored, based on the multi-colored hue of bark

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

Inside most of the rooms are heated and cooled by passive design

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

The breathable envelope also ensures plenty of natural ventilation and lighting

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

In places where there a need for more heating and cooling, the designers created natural-gas powered heat and evaporative cooling

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

All lighting is made up of LEDs

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

An ivy-planted wall reflects the designers' desire to allow nature to take over as it should

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

The landscaped garden both reflects and caters to the need for a green urban gathering space

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

A manmade aquifer collects rainwater as nature intended it

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

Detail of the facade!

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Circa on Jellicoe by StudioMAS Architects

Sometimes architects try to shut nature out of their building projects, but StudioMAS from South Africa has taken a different approach with this dazzling Circa on Jellicoe art gallery in an upscale suburb of Johannesburg. Not only does nature play a lead role in the design concept, but she is even encouraged to eventually take over. This philosophy is evident throughout the multimedia art gallery - from the bark-colored aluminum fin facade, which also allows the building to breathe, to the planted ivy scrims.